March 18, 2026, was a difficult day for Wall Street as the major indexes fell sharply following the Federal Reserve FMOC announcement and continuing geopolitical tensions. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz pushed Brent crude toward $110 per barrel, fueling fears of "stagflation", high inflation paired with slowing growth.
The major averages fell late in the day after the Fed maintained interest rates at 3.50%–3.75% and appeared to signal fewer rate cuts.
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Energy & Conflict: Ongoing conflict in the Middle East—specifically disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—pushed Brent crude toward $110 per barrel, fueling fears of "stagflation" (high inflation paired with slowing growth).
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) rose as investors looked for protection against a sudden downturn.
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Closing: 25.09
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+12.16% (from prior close 22.37)
